Author's Note: Hey guys! I have just posted chapter #27 (ten minutes ago, seriously), and now I'm getting a jump-start on chapter #28. Don't you love me for it? Aren't I such a good person? (Answer: No, I'm not. I just have no life!)

Last chapter was a real dozy, wasn't it? Torture, blood, zombies, ghosts…last chapter had it all (which explains why it took me so long to write!). Thank you to everyone who took the time to review! You guys make my day!

Anyways…I've been working feverishly on the lemon, and I really wanna finish it, so if I don't update again in the next couple of days, you know why. NOTE: Guys, I don't wanna turn this into a porno…I'm going to try as hard as I can to make it good, but I'm not going to get uber-UBER-descriptive! (I won't even know what I'm talking about! :S) Anyways, this week I actually have a question! (I know! :D)

What are some of your favourite T.V. shows and books? I really need something new to obsess about! :(

I hope you enjoy the chapter!

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This week's disclaimer comes from the girl we all love: Christina!

Disclaimer: Steph and Christina are still wandering through the depths of the forest when Steph sees Christina pick something up off the ground.

Steph: What's that?

Christina: Oh, nothing. It's just an ad from Wal-Mart…NO WAY! Did you know they have all OXY products on sale for 25% off?! That's a pretty good deal right there!

Steph: You mean the acne medications? The zit creams?

Christina: Yeah…

Steph: *Confused*
I don't see why that's necessary or why you'd care. In case you haven't noticed, we're kinda lost in the forest; face wash should be the last thing on your mind! Plus, we've had impeccably clear skin all our lives!

Christina: It's not for us, silly! I thought maybe we could pick up a few things and make a gift basket for Derek!

Steph: Wait, what?! You're thinking about buying Derek acne cream? CHRISTINA?!

Christina: What? I thought since you love DP so much - by the way, have I mentioned it's still not yours? – you'de want to fix up some of the characters! Trust me, I'd be doing you a favour! You'll thank me later!

Steph: *Extremely pissed off*
I really don't know what to say to you right now.

Christina: A 'thank you!' would suffice, I think!
*Skips away, smiling and humming cheerfully.*

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Anguish

Chloe POV

We scoured the city for hours, concentrating our efforts on the area surrounding the brutal scene we had just encountered…

We still hadn't found him.

We were tired, hungry, and fed up; but I wasn't going to give up until I found him- until he was safe.

Derek was out there somewhere, alone and terrified. He had finally completed the Change, and the first thing he had done was kill two people.

Monsters, my inner voice corrected. Not people. Two vicious, bloodthirsty monsters. They deserved what they got and more.

You're right, but he's still going to feel guilty, and you know it.

That's true…Can you imagine the horrible things they must've done to him?

I cringed, remembering the blood and gore of Liam's makeshift torture chamber. Derek's blood had covered every surface- he was probably severely injured, possibly disorientated.

How much blood can a person loose before they die? Two pints? Three? I wondered, making a mental note to google it when we found Derek.

If we find Derek…

I refused to think about that. Instead, I glanced over at Simon. He hadn't said a word to me since the whole incident in the warehouse, and part of me felt guilty for knocking down the pedestal Simon had put me on in his mind.

"Simon, I'm really sorry about before, but can you please try the tracking spells again?" I asked.

"Chloe," he sighed. "I'm not mad at you, I'm just…really worried about Derek. My tracking spell's not picking up on him, and I'm not sure why; it could be because he's in wolf form, or because…" He trailed off, not finishing the thought.

Because he's dead, I finished.

"Chloe, this reminds me of when my Dad disappeared. My spell couldn't track him either, and…"

I cut him off. "Okay…if we can't use magic to find him, how about we use logic?" I suggested.

Tori finally spoke. "To be honest with you, I'd really like it if Chloe used her credit card to get us a hotel room. I'm exhausted!"

I spun around to face her. "Tori, we're not stopping until we find him! " She shrugged. "Okay," I continued. "Now, let's go over what we know: Derek completed his Change and may or may not still be in wolf form…"

Simon picked up where I left off. "He lost a lot of blood, and he's probably either really hurt or really out of it right now…"

Tori took control of the conversation. "Okay, so think! Where would you go if you were hurt and scared?" she asked. "Somewhere you would feel safe and secure, right? Well, where would Derek-"

"He's in the forest!" I realized. Tori and Simon stared at me quizzically. "He told me he has dreams about being in the forest, being a wolf…" I explained.

"Woah. For a second there, I thought you were going to tell us about Derek's dirty dreams!"

"TORI! Now is soooooo not the time! This is serious! We have to search every forest and wooded area until we find him!"

"You can't be serious. Look around, Chloe! This is Buffalo, for God's sakes! The whole state is nothing but forest! How are we supposed to find him in all of this?! He could be anywhere by now!"

"Cummon, Tori! We're so close!" If only Simon's spell was more powerful…

"Wait! I have an idea! Tori, have you ever tried casting a tracking spell like Simon's?" I asked.

"No…"

"I know Simon couldn't, but maybe if you try, it'll work and we can find Derek!"

"Chloe, if Simon's spell could find him, then I seriously doubt-"

Simon cut her off. "No! Chloe's right, Tor! You're way more powerful than I am. Mind couldn't, but maybe your spell can!" he said hopefully.

"But I don't know how!" Tori said, defeatedly.

"I'll teach you it, sis. It's not that difficult, trust me!"

Tori sighed. "I'll give it a try, but if it doesn't work, we're definitely getting a hotel room afterwards!"

I smiled. "Whatever you want, Tori. Whatever you want."

***

Tori was massaging her temples, eyes shut in concentration. "Guys…I think I'm getting something, but it's really, really faint…"

Simon coughed nervously into his fist. "She sounds like one of those phony T.V. psychics!" he whispered. I stifled a laugh.

"Which way, Tor? Lead the way!" he said, louder this time.

Tori began walking without so much as a snarky retort, staying focused on reaching her destination. We walked silently behind her.

She didn't stop until she reached an eerily deserted street that was bordered by huge trees - they were probably hundreds of years old.

"There!" Tori pointed to the trees. "He's about twenty meters in."

Simon and I bolted for the trees, leaving Tori leaning against a 7/11.

***

We ran silently, following the sound of labored breathing.

"Chloe! Over there!" He pointed to a tree, where there was something or someone-Derek- huddled against the snarling roots of a tree.

My breathing hitched. "Derek!"

He didn't answer.

Simon and I rushed forward to help. I couldn't see a thing, but I could hear Derek's tortured breathing.

"Simon, I need light!" I said frantically.

"Oh, right. Sorry." He lifted his hands up and held them in front of his chest. A moment later, his hands began to glow, illuminating a small section of the forest.

We gasped in union.

It was Derek…but it wasn't.

He was covered in blood- his own. His left arm and right ankle were bent at unnatural angles, and there were stab wounds splattered across his torso.

That was the least of it.

He didn't look human. He was shifting between his wolf and human forms so fast I almost missed it when I blinked. Hair was sprouting and receding quickly; his face was elongating and shortening , and his ears were moving up and down on the side of his face.

His hands and feet were the worst.

His limbs shot out and receded painfully, his hands and feet curling into claws and paws. Thankfully, he still had his shorts on.

"Oh my God…" Simon breathed.

"Simon, can't you do some healing spells or something?" I asked desperately.

"No! I'm a sorcerer, not a shaman!"

Tori appeared behind us. "Would you two stop arguing? We have to get him back to the house so your Aunt Lauren can help him." She sounded calm and cool. She's probably the only one thinking straight right now…

"And how're we supposed to do that?!" Simon demanded. "We can't do anything while he's like this! We have to get him to stop shifting!"

"What are we gunna do, Tori?" I asked.

"You have to do something, Chloe. I don't know what to do here!"

Simon must've looked over at Derek again, because he swore under his breath.

"Simon, there's no reason for unnecessary profanity right now." Was that Tori?!

"What exactly am I supposed to do, Tori?!" I asked desperately.

"Just try talking to him," she said evenly.

"What could that possibly do?!"

"Just try, okay?"

"Fine." I forced myself to look at Derek's crumpled form again. "D-Derek?" I said softly. "Derek? Can you hear me? It's Chloe, Derek. Please, you have to wake up! We need to get you help Derek!" I paused, waiting for something, anything to happen.

When it didn't, I tried again.

"Derek, please." I could feel the tears streaming down my face, but I didn't turn away. I rested my hand on his chest- above his heart- and waited.

"Chloe, look!" Tori said.

I looked up at Derek. His shifting was slowing measurably, but he still wasn't conscious. I waited, until finally…he was just Derek.

I could hear Tori pull her phone out of her pocket. She dialed a number – Andrew's phone – and began to speak.

"Andrew, we've found him. Can you come pick us up? He's in pretty bad shape."

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Author's Note: THEY FOUND HIM! THANK THE LORD, THEY FOUND HIM!

Guys, I'm dancing. Seriously. I can't believe I finally got to write that chapter! :D Only one thing could add to my euphoria: reviews! Please review guys, at least twenty please!